IN THE AIR.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 10 April 1917, Page 5

IN THE AIR.

INTENSE ACTIVITY. LONDON, April 8. It is authoratively stated that the rumours that we were outclassed by the German aircraft are unfounded. Our air service is liable to heavy losses .because it is doing specially heavy reconnaissance work. Everything possible is being done to augment the supply of the latest aircraft. ■: <• Sir Douglas Haig reports:—'<Our aeroplanes during Thursday Friday continually harassed the enemy lines of communication, seeking out his fighting machine at a considerable distance in the rear of the main line. Seventeen hundred photographs were taken of large tracts of the enemy's country for many miles in the rear. Despite repeated attempts to prevent co-operation with the artillery this proceeded unhindered. Seventeen suecssful bomb raids were conducted on the enemy's aerodromes and ammunition depots and railways at a long distance in the rear. There was intense fighting by large formations. Twenty-eight of our machines are missing, many of which are known to have been shot down. Fifteen hostile machines were actually seen to fall, and thirty-one others were driven down damaged, a large majority being undoubtedly destroyed. According to a frontier newspaper British aeroplanes dropped several bombs on Zeppelin sheds at Tondern, in Belgium, on March 22. The extent of the damage in not known.

HAIR-RAISING DETAILS

LONDON, April 8

Mr Beueh Thomas says the new aitfighting is most wonderful. The latest machines on both sides achieve most breathless speed, '.swishing past like birds or flying at-viewless heights till one dives, winged and wounded for its own lines. The fighting is now so quick and skilful that the slower and older machines have little chance. The newest British machine broke all records, destroying five of. the enemy in one flight.' The machines now drop frpm the clouds feet to bomb a train,- -fire at a balloon, or [riddle troops' with"machfhc-gtins:- They ct>me« so quick ' that-men ■on the spot with loaded rifles aTe too slow to fire before |>ap lane is out of range. Both sides exhibit'uncanny skill in ambushing or in escaping amongst the clouds. CAUSE OF HEAVY CASUALTIES LONDON, April S. Correspondents at the British headquarters insist on the seriousness of aerial casualties, but say people must not exaggerate them. A vigorous air offensive is essential if the artillery is to continue to do its best. Germany's service has been reorganised since the battle of the Somme. Its displays real initiative in bad weather only, when able to hide in the clouds. There have .been many Allied casualties forty miles beSind the,firing line, but practically no Germans...have, been downed on the" British front- The Britishere are con- _ fident that when the weather is,settled,'j they will be able, to so .punish the Ger-j mans that they will practically com- j mand the air as during the Somme fighting. | GERMANY'S INTERNAL ! TROUBLES. FRANCHISE REFORMS INSISTED! ON. Received 9.20. j AMSTERDAM, April 9. j Theodore Wolff, writing in th e Tage- j blatt, states the Kaiser's reforms must include equal voting, which must be extended to the constitutional limits, otherwise a sound foreign policy j is impossible. "Vorwaerts" insists the reforms j must apply to the whole Empire. The Lokal Anzieger states the reforms will have an immense influence internally and abroad. The Vossiche states the proclamation whicji binds the Kaiser and his successors, are only promises of a secret general vote. The fight for equal votes must continue. ARMY RUGBY.

NEW ZEALAND V. FRANCE

PARIS, April 9. In connection with the football match at Paris between France anc New Zealand, the French team in eluded many fine players, but it was the first time they had played together, while the New Eealanders frequently trained during intervals in the fighting. SWANSEA V. AUSTRALIANS. Received 11.20. LONDON, April 9. In the football match between Swansea and the Australians, Swansea won by 15 to 6. Feirur and "White securied tries.